Worried about loose skin

JonDyn
JonDyn Posts: 156 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've lost weight at around the rate of 4-5 lbs a week for the last month and I'm worried about developing loose skin, I do excercise and work out to accompany the diet and I've not noticed any loose skin on my arms or legs as of current but I'm worried, that maybe my stomach will have loose skin on it ( do to hearing some weight loss horror stories)
Any more ways I can prevent this?

Replies

  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Slower weight loss.

    Your skin has a natural elastic ability. It can stretch and shrink quite a bit. The thing is, it needs time to do this.

    Gaining too much weight too quickly can create weak points in the skin that will become noticeable with weight loss.

    Losing weight too quickly will cause the skin to not be able to react quickly enough, creating the loose skin effect.

    This all depends on the size of the area where the weight is coming off.

    Solution is very simple: lose weight slowly to give the skin enough time to properly react. Just monitor your body regularly, and slow down your weight loss if you think things are going south.
  • Paizzaz
    Paizzaz Posts: 33
    I worry about loose skin too... I have some below my belly button. I don't know really if anything can be done to prevent or shrink loose skin other than surgery or time. I prefer time personally. I look at it the same way I do stretchmarks, being that it likely has more to do with genetics than anything else. But when I see pictures of those brave enough to post their progress and success, even those with loose skin, all I can see is accomplishment.
  • terriveller
    terriveller Posts: 22 Member
    Agree that slow gradual weight loss will minimize loose skin, also drinking 6-8 glasses on H20 daily will help.
  • KatDJZ
    KatDJZ Posts: 224 Member
    I'm nowhere near the point where it's an issue yet, but I worry about it in the future too. Everything I've hear about avoiding it to whatever degree you can is to lose weight slowly, workout, especially weight training, keep hydrated, and give it time. I guess we'll see whether or not that works.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I've lost weight at around the rate of 4-5 lbs a week for the last month and I'm worried about developing loose skin, I do excercise and work out to accompany the diet and I've not noticed any loose skin on my arms or legs as of current but I'm worried, that maybe my stomach will have loose skin on it ( do to hearing some weight loss horror stories)
    Any more ways I can prevent this?
    Jon, if your logging is accurate, you are eating between 400 and 60 calorie a day of sugar puffs and broth, plus you are exercising to around a zero net. You are eating way below your basal metabolic rate, which is what you need to survive if you were in a coma.

    Why are you doing this? Even if you are under a doctor's care for a VLCD, which I cannot imagine, if they're a good doctor they would never approve of such an unhealthy restriction.

    Yeah, you'll get lose skin alright and you will become skinny fat. You'll also get pretty darned sick as well.

    My suggestion is to up those calories-and I mean WAY UP- to about 10% below your total daily expenditure and do whatever exercise you like (I suggest some weight lifting) and slow your weight loss down.

    Here's a calculator for you to figure all this out: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Holy Diet Diary Batman!

    With a diet like that, you are almost guaranteed to develop loose skin with any decent amount of weight loss. The surgery to fix that (will leave scars) will be expensive sure, but no where near as expensive as the surgeries to save your internal organs that will be undoubtedly damaged if you continue such a diet plan.
  • JonDyn
    JonDyn Posts: 156 Member
    It probably doesn't help I mention then that I do a quite heavily active job about 6 times a weeks and also do weights and sit ups that I don't record as calories burnt then, how much can I loose a week and keep healthy skin?
  • JonDyn
    JonDyn Posts: 156 Member
    Also in total I've actually lost around 3 stone in a few months doing this ( from 18 a couple weeks before starting mfp) to my current weight of 15stone exactly, but if I do it properly and eat more now is there a chance I can avoid long term damage to skin and stuff?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    Sorry but besides giving it time, it's all about genetics, the amount of weight lost and how young you are when you lose it (& keep it off, of course - repeated stretching doesn't help).

    After looking at your diary, :huh: :noway: you are not providing your body with ANY nutrition to help rebuild the collagen elasticity in your skin. You need to see a dietician/nutritionist PRONTO!
  • echofm1
    echofm1 Posts: 471 Member
    Also in total I've actually lost around 3 stone in a few months doing this ( from 18 a couple weeks before starting mfp) to my current weight of 15stone exactly, but if I do it properly and eat more now is there a chance I can avoid long term damage to skin and stuff?

    Yes, there is a chance! Losing slowly is really the only way to avoid all sorts of loose skin. It's not a guarantee, but it helps. Seriously, eat more food. You want this to be something that sticks after all, right? Don't take drastic measures to lose the weight fast then.

    While upping your calories to lose slower is the biggest thing to help with loose skin, moisturizing the areas you're worried about might also help to keep loose skin to a minimum, and lots of water. Keeping yourself (and your skin) hydrated is a good way to help it bounce back from your weight loss. Genetics help too, but you can't control that. :flowerforyou:
  • tryett
    tryett Posts: 530 Member
    I would recommend either a Dr or a dietician. Your diet it truly scary. Not only are you nor eating enough in general but with the low intake of protein you are probably losing muscle also.
  • JonDyn
    JonDyn Posts: 156 Member
    What's the most I can lose a week while staying healthy?
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    What's the most I can lose a week while staying healthy?

    The main think you can do to stay healthy during your weight loss is to ensure all your macros are met on a daily basis. If you're lifting weights then you should be looking at 100g of protein per day or more. It looks like MFP has recommended 98gms of protein a day but that's without factoring in your weight training.

    If your diary is accurate them you most certainly are not staying healthy during your weight loss - 14 gms of protein a day, every day is simply nowhere near enough, and your total calories is insanely low - I'm hoping you're just not logging everything
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    Muscle atrophy is a horrible price to pay for hitting your goal weight.
  • JonDyn
    JonDyn Posts: 156 Member
    That seems like big difference in protein , what are the best foods for that?
  • echofm1
    echofm1 Posts: 471 Member
    You want to aim to lose 1-2 pounds a week. It might seem slow when you've been losing so fast, but it's healthier. At 15 stone, you probably want closer to 1 pound unless you're a pretty short guy.

    As for protein, meat is always good. Turkey, steak, chicken, etc. Fish is also a good source. For non-meat, most dairy has a decent amount of protein, some veggies have some but it's probably not your best bet. Nuts are good. Often (not always though!) high protein sources will also have high fat. However, having fat in your diet is NOT a bad thing and WILL NOT make you fat.

    Really, just start eating things other than whatever you're having for breakfast and then the occasional broth. You need nutrients; eat fruits, veggies, meat, etc. Your body will thank you.

Categories